Health Unit Checking Student Vaccinations

January 28, 2016

Huron County, ON – The Huron County Health Unit has sent letters to students who don’t have a complete immunization record.

The Health Unit annually reviews immunization records for students attending school. Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) Ontario students are required to be vaccinated against several infectious diseases in order to attend school.

“Students may have received these vaccines but the Health Unit may not have the records,” says Public Health Nurse Ruth Ann Ogilvie. “Any vaccinations you receive at your doctor’s office do not automatically get shared with the Health Unit.”

If your family has received a letter, the Health Unit asks you to make sure the student’s shots are up to date. Families should fill out the rest of the notice and return it to the Health Unit by email, fax or phone.

Check with your healthcare provider to see if they have a record of the required vaccines. If your child needs the vaccine, please take the form with you to the appointment. You can have your healthcare provider complete the form which you can then send to the Health Unit.

“Even taking a photo of the completed form with your camera and emailing it to us helps us complete a record,” says Ogilvie.

This first immunization notice will be followed up by a second notice for anyone who does not respond.

Ontario students must be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella. In 2014, vaccines for meningitis and pertussis (whooping cough) were added to the list, as well as varicella (chickenpox) vaccine for students born in 2010 or later.

To report an immunization or to ask questions about these changes, please contact us:

  • Call 519.482.3416 or 1.877.837.6143 ext. 2025
  • E-mail immunize [at] huroncounty.ca
  • Fax 519.482.9014
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For more information contact:
Our media contact is: Rita Marshall, Communications Co-ordinator, Huron County Health Unit, 519.482.3416 or toll-free 1.877.837.6143 ext. 2023 or rmarshall@huroncounty.ca

Our spokesperson is: Ruth Ann Ogilvie, Public Health Nurse. Our media contact will connect you to our spokesperson on this topic.

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For more information contact:

Susan Cronin, County Clerk
519.524.8394 (ext 3257)
scronin@huroncounty.ca